Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for October 16, 2026

 

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with the Masters of the Universe live action film and Masters of the Universe in general, season 4 of Star Trek Strange New Worlds and Star Trek in general,  VisionQuest and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general, Lanterns and the DC Cinematic Universe in general, Ray Gunn, Digger, Avatar: Seven Havens, Carrie, Street Fighter, Other Mommy, Crystal Lake, Transformers: The Movie at forty, tributes to Eva Marie and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Reactor shares all the new science fiction books arriving in October 2026
• Reactor shares all the new fantasy books arriving in October 2026 
• Reactor shares all the new horror books arriving in October 2026 
• Reactor shares all the new romantasy books arriving in October 2026 
• Reactor shares all the new young adult SFF books arriving in October 2026 
• Reactor shares all the new SFF crossover books arriving in October 2026 
• Lisa Tuttle shares a round-up of her favourite recent science fiction, fantasy and horror books. 
• Wole Talabi shares five stories of first contact in African science fiction. 
• Sarah Clegg discusses the surprisingly long history of romantic fantasy. 
• Adrian Collins lists five lone wolf characters from dark fantasy.
• Fiona Denton lists eight dark YA fantasies that might work for grimdark fans 
• Alex Brown shares five underrated SFF books with monsters in the woods 
• Sam Reader shares six haunting books about sinister houses 
• Kali Wallace shares scary audiobooks for the spooky season  
• Bitter Karella shares five works of folk horror not for the faint-hearted  
• Dr. Philip Chase wonders if Beowulf is grimdark. 
• James Davis Nicoll wonders whether to distinguish between “best” and “favourite” books 
• Jo Walton shares her reading list for September 2026. 

 

Comics and Art:

• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about picking titles for British cosy crime novels.
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about the extreme reader’s hyper-optimised day 

  

Film and TV:

• Rai Furniss-Greasley shares his thoughts on the animated series Golden Axe.  
• Leah Schnelbach praises the humanity and humor of Widow’s Bay  
• Peter Bradshaw calls The Face of Horror a future cult classic that offers playful spin on Hammer horror 
• Peter Bradshaw calls Forgotten Island an over-controlled animated adventure that never takes a breath or a moment to let its characters come to life 
• Catherine Bray calls Hallowarrior an apocalyptic Home Alone-style survival horror film.  
• Arturo Serrano shares his thoughts on Verity. 
• Arturo Serrano shares his thoughts on the anime Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising 
• Cheryl Eddy calls Posthumous a supernatural tale that taps into old-school technology for its tale of modern grief.  
• Jarrod Jones calls V/H/S/Mixtape a dull roar 
• Ben Child declares that making a new Skywalker trilogy for Star Wars would be a waste of time 
• Judith Tarr shares her appreciation for the character Luna in the anime Sailor Moon.   
• Animation Obsessive profiles Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit.  
• Matthew Byrd and Leah Schnelbach list eight horror movie versions of Greek myths 
• Paul Burke shares his favourite spy shows and movies of the 1960s. 
• Don Kaye rewatches the 1963 science fiction anthology series The Outer Limits. 
• Cora Buhlert revisits the 1971 musical espionage comedy When My Sweetheart Gets Loud.
• Amber Dubin revisits the first three episodes of season 2 of Night Gallery, which debuted in September 1971. 
• Kali Wallace revisits the 1973 dystopian movie Soylent Green. 
• Arturo Serrano revisits the 1986 fantasy movie Babes in Toyland 
• Tyler Dean revisits the 1987 vampire movie The Lost Boys. 
• Tyler Dean revisits the 1987 fantasy movie The Witches of Eastwick  
• Haley Zapal revisits the 1987 horror movie The Gate.  
• Haley Zapal revisits the 1988 horror film Killer Klowns from Outer Space
• Rachel Meghan revisits the 1992 horror comedy Army of Darkness. 
• Peter Bradshaw revisits the 1996 teen horror film The Craft. 
• Dean E.S. Richard revisits the 1997 science fiction horror movie Event Horizon. 
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1999 Babylon 5 Crusade episode “The Needs of Earth” 
• Charles Carrall revisits the 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan. 
• Kali Wallace revisits the 2021 science fiction film Neptune Frost. 
• Actor Michael Forest, who appeared in many B-movies as well as Star Trek and The Twilight Zone has died aged 97. 

 

Tributes to Eva Marie Saint:

• Eva Marie Saint, star of North by Northwest, On the Waterfront, Raintree Country, Superman Returns and many others, has died aged 102.
• Anne Billson ranks her favourites of Eva Marie Saint's movies. 
• Greg Whitmore shares photos from Eva Marie Saint's long life and career. 

 

Comments on the Masters of the Universe live action film and Masters of the Universe in general:

• The Witch interviews Travis Knight, director of Masters of the Universe.  
• Digital Charcuterie points out that Masters of the Universe is still in the top ten streaming charts after eight weeks, even though most streaming movies fall out of the charts very quickly. 
• Watch "Side Scroll of Doom", the latest episode of the Masters of the Universe: Tales from Eternia animated series.  

Comments on season 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek at 60 and Star Trek in general:     

• Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on season 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.   
• Caroline Siede shares her thoughts on “Tomorrow’s Enterprise”, the season 4 finale of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.    

 

Comments on Lanterns and the DC Cinematic Universe in general:

• Arturo Serrano calls Lanterns the type of science fiction that considers the inner space of the human mind as vast and fascinating as outer space.  
• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on "Dirt and Stars”, the season 1 finale of Lanterns. 
• Dennis Perkins shares his thoughts on "Dirt and Stars”, the season 1 finale of Lanterns. 

 

Comments on Transformers: The Movie at forty: 

• Cora Buhlert revisits the 1986 animated science fiction film Transformers: The Movie and the new short film Optimus Prime: Awakening. 
• Chris McFeely revisits Transformers: The Movie. 
• Empire Wreckers explains why the Decepticons in Transformers are such memorable and occasionally sympathetic villains.  
• Germain Lussier reports that Michael Bay will return for another Transformers live action movie.  

 

 Comments on VisionQuest and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general: 

• William Hughes calls VisionQuest a worthy successor to WandaVision 
• Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on the first two episodes of VisionQuest.  
• Sam Barsanti shares his thoughts on the first two episodes of VisionQuest.  
• Lily Brown interviews James Spader who plays Ultron in VisionQuest. 
• Tom Power interviews James Spader who plays Ultron in VisionQuest. 
• Germain Lussier declares that Avengers Endgame: Encore  is so much more than a Doomsday advertisement  
• Watch a trailer for VisionQuest.

 

Comments on Ray Gunn: 

• Germain Lussier calls Ray Gunn a fun science fiction detective story and little more  
• Siddhant Adlakha declares that Ray Gunn gives Zootopia a run for its money in the weird metaphor department 
• Germain Lussier interviews Brad Bird, director of Ray Gunn. 

 

Comments on the latest adaptation of Carrie:  

• Lucy Mangan declares that the glorious return of Carrie couldn’t come at a better time
• Saloni Gajjar calls Carrie a darker, riskier adaptation that takes a few too many detours 
• Saloni Gajjar calls Carrie's finale a bloody mess in more ways than one 
• Matthew Byrd lists the biggest changes the latest Carrie series makes to the novel.   

 

Comments on Digger:

• Sian Cain declares that Digger may have flopped spectacularly, but that it is a misunderstood masterpiece
• Germain Lussier wants to talk about Digger.  
• Andrew Pulver reports that Digger is set to lose 245 million USD at the box office.  

  

Comments on Avatar: Seven Havens: 

• Gavia Baker-Whitelaw calls Avatar: Seven Havens a triumphant return for the animated Last Airbender franchise 
• Joshua Rivera calls Avatar: Seven Havens a splendid sequel series.  
• Isaiah Colbert declares that the series premiere of Avatar: Seven Havens is a little rocky, but it’s got potential  
• Matthew Byrd discusses the controversy surrounding the portrayal of the character of Korra in Avatar: Seven Havens. 
• Isaiah Colbert notes that Avatar: Seven Havens finally lets the characters of Korra and Asami kiss, though in an unusual way.  

 

Comments on Street Fighter:  

• Jen Lennon declares that Street Fighter is exactly what you hoped and feared it would be  
• Jacob Oller calls Street Fighter a punishing, fetishistic mess—and that's when it's at its best. 
• Radheyan Simonpillai calls Street Fighter a largely incoherent mess 
• Anthony d'Alessandro reports that Street Fighter had a lower opening than expected, mostly driven by long-time fans.  

 

Comments on Crystal Lake:  

• Cheryl Eddy declares that Crystal Lake rewrites Friday the 13th lore with gory, campy glee 
• Saloni Gajjar calls Crystal Lake grisly, but overlong.  
• Glenn Garner interviews Brad Caleb Kane, creator of Crystal Lake.

 

Comments on Other Mommy: 

• Benjamin Lee calls Other Mommy a demonic double horror film that isn’t nightmarish enough 
• Natalie Zutter declares that Other Mommy possesses the imagination but not the daring 
• Justin Carter calls Other Mommy a bad movie already making big bucks 

 

Awards:

• The winners of the 2026 British Fantasy Awards have been announced.
• The winner of the 2026 Aldiss Award has been announced. 
• The winner of the 2025 Endeavour Award has been announced. 
• The winners of the 2026 Harvey Awards have been announced. 
• The shortlist for the 2026 Golden Joystick Awards has been announced. 

 Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Mike Glyer reports that there are once again issues with the contracts of Must-Read Magazines, this time regarding cover art.
• Jason Sanford declares that Must Read Magazines must change or they will destroy Asimov's Science Fiction, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine 
• Mike Glyer reports that it appears that Must Read Magazine has caved in regarding cover art, following blowback from artists.  
• Adam Morgan reports that book publishers are quietly using more and more AI and that their staff is revolting. 
• Emma Loffhagen reports that thriller writer Lee Child is supporting a scheme to send half a million books to British prisons. 

 

Interviews:

• Tad Williams and George R.R. Martin interview each other. 
• Scott Edelman interviews Martha Wells. 
• S.E. Berrow interviews T. Kingfisher. 
• Arley Sorg interviews Yoon Ha Lee. 
• Arley Sorg interviews Wole Talabi. 
• Cora Buhlert interviews Fiona Moore.
• Sophie McBain interviews Audrey Niffenegger. 
• Elizabeth Tabler interviews Peter Orullian. 
• Will McClelland interviews Francesco Dimitri and Sophia McDougall 

 

Reviews:   

• Camestros Felapton reviews The Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey
• Kevin Tipple reviews Fury in Death by J.D. Robb 
• Charlie Jane Anders reviews Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger 
• Eddie Clark reviews The Only Way Out Is Up by Django Wexler  
• Alex Wallace reviews They Called Her Rebel by Jacob Dallas-Main  
• Robert Guffey reviews The Silver Revolver by John Shirley. 
• Vick Weisfeld reviews Shifta by Miles Joyner  
• Lesa Holstine reviews  The Winter Solstice Gift by Jenn McKinlay
• Joseph B. Hoyos reviews Any More Questions for the Corpse? by J.J. Unthank 
• Will McClelland reviews Pan by Francesco Dimitri
• Rai Furniss-Greasley reviews The Thrice Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman 
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews Ashes of the Past by D.W. Ross 
• Saif Shaikh reviews The Worth of Scars by Gabriel Farrell 
• Fiona Denton reviews The Exorcism of Faeries by J.L. Vampa 
• Stew Hotston reviews The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling 
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews The Fallen Faithful by R.A. Sandpiper 
• Alex Brown reviews The Sunken, the Adored by Donyae Coles. 
• Tobias Carroll reviews In These Gilded, Ghostly Hearts by Gwendolyn Kiste 
• S.E. Berrow reviews Monstera by Delilah S. Dawson  
• Mahvesh Murad reviews Witch Daughter by Tanaz Bhathena 
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews She’s a Doll by Barbara Truelove 
• Ed Crocker reviews Incarnate by Alma Katsu 
• Krystle Matar reviews The Slantwise Histories by Alix E. Harrow
• Jenny Hamilton reviews The Tongue I Dream In by Sheree Renée Thomas 
• Arley Sorg reviews Lo que nos siguió a casa; Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latiné Horror, edited by Cynthia Pelayo

 

Classics reviews:

• Alan Brown revisits the 1953 science fiction novel More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon 
• Cora Buhlert revisits the 1971 sword and sorcery anthology Warlocks and Warriors, edited by L. Sprague De Camp 
• Cora Buhlert revisits the 1971 sword and sorcery anthology Warlocks and Warriors, edited by Douglas Hill  
• Kris Vyas-Myall revisits the 1971 science fiction anthology Protostars, edited by David Gerrold. 
• Gideon Marcus revisits the October 1971 issue of Analog 
• Gideon Marcus revisits the November 1971 issue of Galaxy
• John Boston revisits the November 1971 issue of Amazing.  
• David Levinson revisits the November-December 1971 issue of IF - Worlds of Science Fiction.
• Kris Vyas-Myall revisits the 1971 experimental novel Les Guérillères, by Monique Wittig, translated by David Le Vay and the 1971 science fiction novel Gray Matters by William Hjortsberg, S.J. Groenewegen revisits the 1971 science fiction novels The Molecule Men and The Monster of Loch Ness by Fred Hoyle and Geoffrey Hoyle and Jason Sacks revisits the 1971 science fiction novel The Double Man by Eando Binder

 

Crowdfunding:

• E. Catherine Tobler, editor in chief of The Deadlands, needs help with medical expenses. 
• The documentary Tezuka! God of Manga is looking for funding. 

 

Con and event reports:

• Daniel Dern reports about the 2026 Readercon in Burlington, Massachusetts. 
• Mike Glyer reports that Science Fiction and Fantasy Conventions of New Zealand have distanced themselves from a proposed CoNZealand 2 Worldcon bid for Wellington, New Zealand.
• Jen Lennon shares her favourite cosplay from the 2026 New York Comic Con in New York City. 
• Ellen Datlow shares photos of the latest edition of the Fantastic Fiction reading at the KGB Bar in New York City, featuring Carrie Edmund Laben and John Langan 

 

Science and technology:

• Robert Lea reports that Mercury is shrinking faster previously thought 
• Madeleine Rubin reports that food delivery robots are increasingly being attacked. 
• The Guardian reports that hackers have launched an unprecendented cyberattack on refrigeration units in French supermarkets. 
• Mathematician Mary Tsingou Menzel has died aged 98. 
• NASA software engineer Margaret Hamilton, who wrote the software for the Apollo missions, has died aged 90.

 

Gaming: 

• Joe DelFranco reviews the video game Wolverine by Insomniac Games  
• Joe DelFranco reviews the video game Tacoma by Fullbright 
• Keza MacDonald discusses what the 350 GBP Grand Theft Auto collector’s box says about the escalating cost of gaming 
• Gideon Marcus shares his thoughts on the SPI tabletop wargame Korea, which came out in 1971.

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Prime versus Prime reviews the Hasbro Transformers Icons Megatron transforming action figure.   
• Dork Lair reviews the Figura Obscura Medusa action figure from Four Horsemen Studios. 
• Toy Habits reports that Mattel claims that with the re-release of the vintage Masters of the Universe toyline in the Masters of the Universe Origins line is now complete, except that several figures from the vintage line are still missing.
• Pixel Dan responds to Mattel's announcement that the vintage Masters of the Universe toyline has now been completely re-released in Masters of the Universe Origins.  
• He-Mania reports that Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz is leaving the company after eight years to join Skydance Media. 
• Germain Lussier shares a look at the Hasbro Street Fighter Blanka action figure.  
• Cheryl Eddy shares a look at some upcoming LEGO Batman sets.  
• Justin Carter shares a look at the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday Doctor Doom and Steve Rogers action figures from Hot Toys.   
• Germain Lussier shares a look at LEGO sets coming out in October.  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "Master/Slave Couple Seeking Physicist to Feed to a Black Hole" by Arden Powell in Lightspeed. 
• "Uncanny Jack" by Susan Palwick in Lightspeed.  
• "The Mari Lwyd" by Fiona Moore in Clarkesworld.
• "A Vintage Kind of Death" by Alex T. Singer in Clarkesworld.
• "The Three Paths You Take Upon the Death of Your Beloved Sister" by Emma Osborne in The Sunday Morning Transport.
• "The Heart of the Undying" by Asser Mälkki in Swords and Sorcery Magazine,
• "Tomas the Castaway" by Michael Swanwick in Reactor.  
• "The Monster Hunter’s Bargain" by Genoveva Dimova in Reactor. 
• "The Re-Rememberings of Bee Bishop" by AriDy Nox in Imagine 2200 
• "The Taker" by Mari Ness in Nightmare Magazine. 
• "Tarantula" by Seán Padraic Birnie in The Dark. 

 

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for Godzilla Minus Zero. 
• Watch a trailer for Blade Runner 2099. 
• Watch a trailer for Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2.  
• Watch a trailer for Narnia: The Magician's Nephew. 
• Watch a trailer for season 4 of Yellowjackets.